title: Effect of amniotic fluid stem cells and amniotic fluid cells on the wound healing process in a white rat model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Amniotic-fluid-derived stem cells and amniocytes have recently been determined to have wound healing effects, but their mechanism is not yet clearly understood. In this study, the effects of amniotic fluid stem cells and amniocytes on wound healing were investigated through animal experiments.
  
  
  METHODS
  On the back of Sprague-Dawley rats, four circular full-thickness skin wounds 2 cm in diameter were created. The wounds were classified into the following four types: a control group using Tegaderm disc wound dressings and experimental groups using collagen discs, amniotic fluid stem cell discs, and amniocyte discs. The wounds were assessed through macroscopic histological examination and immunohistochemistry over a period of time.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The amniotic fluid stem cell and amniocyte groups showed higher wound healing rates compared with the control group; histologically, the inflammatory cell invasion disappeared more quickly in these groups, and there was more significant angiogenesis. In particular, these groups had significant promotion of epithelial cell reproduction, collagen fiber formation, and angiogenesis during the initial 10 days of the wound healing process. The potency of transforming growth factor-β and fibronectin in the experimental group was much greater than that in the control group in the early stage of the wound healing process. In later stages, however, no significant difference was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The amniotic fluid stem cells and amniocytes were confirmed to have accelerated the inflammatory stage to contribute to an enhanced cure rate and shortened wound healing period. Therefore, they hold promise as wound treatment agents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Jung Dug
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Dong Sik
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Young Kyoo
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Taek Kyun
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jeong Woo
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kang Young
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Ho Yun
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Byung Chae
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Jin Suk
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Byun
keywords: Amniotic fluid; Stem cells; Wound healing